Light Aircraft Association BOOKS - BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY & PHOTOGRAPHIC/EDUCATIONAL

Online Catalogue. > BOOKS - BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY & PHOTOGRAPHIC/EDUCATIONAL

Including humourous titles.

	FLYING FROM MY MIND - Innovative and Record-Breaking Microlight and Aircraft Designs David G Cook's memoir is the story of one of Britain's most outstanding microlight designers, who has flown his various aircraft to achieve a multitude of record flights. His fascinating story begins in 1973 when David Cook built a glider in an attempt to win the Selsey Birdman Rally ' an annual event where all types of creations are launched from the end of Bognor Pier. Between 1975 and 1977 he won every National and International hang gliding competition entered and then in 1977 he designed and built a power unit for his glider. In 1978 he became the first and lowest-powered microlight to cross the English Channel. His successes in this venture led to sponsorship from Duckhams Oil and there followed a period of demonstration flights at major air shows. In 1982 he designed a microlight called Shadow and in 1983 it took the FIA world speed and distance records for the class. In 1992 he took the aircraft to 23,600ft to claim the world altitude record for the class, beaten later by himself in a newly designed Streak to 27,150 ft. David started a company to build the Shadow in 1984 and has demonstrated its remarkable flying abilities around the world, during which time he had many amusing and some exciting experiences. In 1987 the Shadow won the British Design Award. Hardback, 228 pages, plus 36 pages of B&W photographs. Price: £19.99


	You want to Build and Fly a What? or....How i learned to fly, build a WW1 Replica, and stay married! The true, highly unlikely and very funny autobiography of Dick Starks, a Maths teacher who, having succeeded in learning to fly, buys an old Cessna, then goes on to build a Replica Nieuport Fighter Plane. A lively mix of humour, trials and tribulations, technical information and his philosophy, Stark's story gives a unique insight into the mind of a determined and dedicated homebuilder. He cheerfully reveals the disasters he encountered (many self inflicted!), but in doing so shows the value of direct thinking and learning from your mistakes. 250 Pages Price: £12.99


	Slipping The Surly Bonds One of our favourite books!! This anthology of 'Great Quotations on Flight' features several hundred of the funniest, saddest, wisest, idiotic, far-sighted and dramatic pronouncements on flight and flying ever assembled. From Leonardo da Vinci to Neil Armstrong, from Orville Wright to Hitler, covering every possible aspect of flight, this is essential reading for any enthusiast. Guaranteed to be un-putdownable and an endless source of quotes to astound your friends, relatives and colleagues! The perfect gift. Hardback, 230 pages, b&w photos. Price: £11.99


	Aeroplane Affair: An Aeronautical Autobiography - BACK IN STOCK!! By John O Isaacs. Now out of print, we have the last few copies of John Isaacs highly thought of autobiography. The memoirs of this pioneering home-builder are a wonderful mix of reminiscences about post-war club flying, and insights into the complexities of aircraft design and construction. H/back, well illustrated, 240 pages Price: £16.50


	How We Invented The Airplane By Orville Wright. The story of how it all started, in Orville's own words. He wrote this account in 1920, and the document remained buried in Library of Cogress records until the 1950's, after his death. Illustrated with the most extraordinary collection of the brothers' own photographs, documenting every stage of the development and early flights of their aircraft. A fascinating and inspirational book, complete with plans and technical details. Large format, with dozens of b&w photographs throughout. Price: £13.00


	Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers By Fred Howard. Considered to be the definitive study of the Wrights, this extensive, 530 page volume tells the full story of their lives and works from their early childhood, through the years of experimentation with gliders on the Indiana sand dunes, right through to the amazing achievements in North Carolina, when they finally flew. The book also relates the story of the bitter patent and legal battles that followed Wilburs death, and took up Orville's later years. A fascinating historical document, but more importantly, a fascinating read. Illustrated with 16 pages of b&w photos. Price: £20.00


	All About Lightning What is lightning, where does it come from, does it strike twice, what is ball lightning, how can you photograph it, and how can you avoid it?! More information about lightning than you would have thought possible - an excellent read, with 43 diagrams, illustrations and fascinating photos. Price: £8.00


	VAMPIRES AND FLEAS - A History of British Aircraft Preservation The author, Alec Brew, tell the story of the British aircraft preservation movement, from the early days at Old Warden and the Science Museum, to today where every area of the country has its own collections. In the post-war period many of the aircraft that saved Britain were sent for scrap. As whole types of planes became extinct it seemed that no-one cared, until in the 1960s a small, dedicated band of enthusiasts took up the challenge, and began to save and preserve some of these irreplaceable aircraft. The British Aircraft Preservation Council was subsequently formed, and today there are hundreds of organizations devoted to the cause, the results of their labours being on show in museums and air shows all over the country. Illustrated throughout with photographs of many preserved aircraft, this fully indexed 224 page history was published in 2003 by The Crowood Press at £14.99, and is on sale now at just £6.99. Price: £6.99


	1001 Questions About Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Natural Air Disasters This entertaining and fascinating book answers, in detail, questions like how fast tornadoes travel, if hurricanes have any benefits (they do!), and how high fog goes. 380 pages, 92 illustrations and b&w photos. Price: £10.00

Online Catalogue. > BOOKS - BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY & PHOTOGRAPHIC/EDUCATIONAL